Iconic sci-fi author Harlan Ellison is taking legal action to prevent the release of Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried’s upcoming movie over allegations of copyright infringement. The actors feature alongside Batman Begins star Cillian Murphy in futuristic thriller In Time, set in a world where people stop ageing at 25, and Ellison claims the film closely resembles his 1965 classic Repent, Harlequin! Said The Ticktockman.

The author has filed suit against director Andrew Niccol and producers at New Regency, and he wants a judge to grant him an injunction to pull the film from its planned October release and destroy all copies of the movie, according to TheHollywoodReporter.com.

In legal documents filed in a California federal court on Wednesday, Ellison claims the similarities between his widely-published short story and the film’s plot are “obvious”, even referring to a film critic’s review of In Time, which draws comparisons to the book.

The author also alleges Niccol’s movie has jeopardised his own plans to make an official film adaptation of Repent, Harlequin!, which he is currently working on.